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Windows Central
Windows Central
Technology
Jennifer Young

"This might be the funniest thing I've ever seen...” Esports journalist praises Valve for giving cheating DotA2 players an absolutely brutal holiday gift

Valve Dota Reddit
DotA2 player hit with permaban.

What you need to know

  • Players caught 'smurfing' in DotA2 have logged on to be greeted by a gift from Valve, a 'Highly Toxic Lump of Coal' which permabans their account.
  • The bans have been handed out indiscriminately and even to professional streamers who have opened the gift live.
  • Smurfing is when a highly skilled player intentionally uses an alternate account to have an advantage over new less skilled players.
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